Defining #BlackGirlMagic

#BlackGirlMagic has been a trending topic for the past few months since Cashawn Thompson @thepbg started the trend based off the phrase “Black Girls are Magic”. The tag has gone viral across all social media sites, Essence Magazine has even dubbed their February 2016 issue a #BlackGirlMagic edition. This special issue features 3 different covers of young black women that are doing great things for the community.

Yara Shahidi, of ABC’s black-ish, has become quite the social activist both on and off the screen. Johnetta “Netta” Elzie is the youngest front-runner of the movement for social change in the black community. Teyonah Parris, main actress in Spike Lee’s latest joint Chi-Raq is making a name for deep-brown black girls everywhere. These ladies exhibit #BlackGirlMagic because they use their talents to encourage and uplift other women. As they excel in their given fields they are a living inspiration to black girls everywhere.

The #BlackGirlMagic tag has been under attack after Elle Magazine writer, Dr. Linda Chavers published “Here’s My Problem with #BlackGirlMagic”. She argues that the tag is ultimately damaging because it pressures women to be magical and superhuman, reinforcing the trope of the strong black woman.

While the tag has the potential to be damaging, it does not because the goal of #BlackGirlMagic is to celebrate the uniqueness of each black woman. #BlackGirlMagic is permission to be unapologetically me. Its about celebrating who you are. It has nothing to do with having magical strength or powers, it’s about harnessing your own skills and talent to do amazing things. ” It’s not about tapping into something supernatural, it’s about claiming or reclaiming what others have refused to see.” Ashley Ford on Elle in response “There is nothing Wrong with Black Girl Magic”. This social media movement is about celebrating Black women in our uniqueness. It’s about celebrating being your best self. It’s about loving every particularity about you. #BlackGirlMagic is about congratulating other women and being appraised by other Black Woman.